GREAT BUILDING FEAT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20218, 1 April 1929, Page 7

GREAT BUILDING FEAT.

MIDLAND BANK STRUCTURE.

ENGINEERING PROBLEMS. Some interesting details of tho operations involved in tho erection of the new head office for tho Midland Bank in Poultry, London, were given by Mr. J. Alfred Gotch in a lecture at the Royal Institute of British Architects, 110 said tho site contained about three-quarters of an acre, and was surroundod by buildings. On it was a large and important branch of tho bank itself in full work. This had to bo preserved until tho staff could bo transferred to the now building, which, accordingly, had to bo erected in sections. Two sets of premises, one at each end of tho Poultry front, were let on leases which had still some years to run, and which it was inexpedient or impossible to determine. That accounted for tho present truncated appearance of tho Poultry facade. Tho site occupied by tho first section had to bo cleared, and tho basement excavated to a general depth of ove? 40ft., and in parts to 60ft. This excavation had to bo converted into a huge watertight tank, of which tho floor was .1 reinforced concrete raft, to cany tho building, and tho sides wero concrete retaining walls. Tho concrete was itself watertight, but, owing to old buildings having to bo preserved and shored up, a good deal of temporary work had to bo installed, and tho water which found its way in had to be pumped out. Tho existing bank, for instanco, had to bo supported while part of the permanent new structure was erected under it, for a distance back of 10ft. in parts. Thanks to the skill of the consulting engineers, Messrs. Sir Douglas Fox and Partners, all this work was done without disaster or even accident.

Beneath part of the sito meandered the subterranean Wall Brook, and one could not plump down a huge water-tight tank into tho bed of a stream without something happening. What exactly did happen, and how it happened, it was impossible to diagnose accurately, but whether from tho diversion of the stream, or the necessary pumping operations, but certainly not from the giving way of tho earth, complaints of cracks appearing in adjacent buildings were made. These, of course, had to be investigated and settled. Incessant watch had to bo kept on all tho adjoining buildings, and anything requiring attention had to bo dealt with at once. Gradually the building emerged from tho ground and soared upwards until tho sixth floor and the domo over it were complete, and then a quick change-over of tho stafi during a weekend had to be accomplished—an operation that entailed considerable organisation.

Mr. Gotch added that tho stanchions of tho Banking Hall were cased in a very beautiful marble called verdite, a rare material found only in ono small district in South Africa. It was obtainable only in small blocks and had to bo pieced together to form the large columns on which it was used. So raro was it that tho marble contractor, after exhausting the contents of one hill, had to purchase the whole of another small mountain to obtain tho exclusive rights of quarrying. LONDON MEAT MARKETPRICES AT SMITIIFIELD.

The New Zealand Meat Producers' Board has received tho following cablegram from its London ofiice, dated March 28, advising Smithfield delivered prices averaged for the week ended lhat date as follows;—

New Zealand Wellicrs and Maidens.— Canterbury quality, selected brands, 5611) and under, 7d per Hi; 571b to 641b, 6|d; 65H) to 721b, Other brands, 561b and under, 6^l: 571b to 641b, 6id; 651b to 721b, sd.

New Zealand Ewes.—64l h and under, 4-jd. New Zealand La nibs. —Canterbury quality. 361b and under, 9|d ; 371b to 421b, 8gcl; 4511) to 501b, B.',d; seconds, 83d. Selected brands, 361b and under, 9|d; 371b to 421b, Bgd. Other brands, first quality, 361b and under, 9d; 371b to 4211), BAd; second quality 301b to 321b average, 84-d. Australian Lambs.—Victorian, first quality, 361b and under, 42H), 7ijJ Argentine Lambs. —First quality, 361b and under, 7^d; 371b to 421b, 7d. Argentine Chilled Beef.—Ox fores, 4j|d; hinds, 63d. New Zealand Frozen Pork.—Porkers, 601b to 801b, BAd; 811b to 991b, B|d; 1001b to 1201b, 8d; baconers, 1211b to 1801b, Sid. Lamb Market.—Better inquiry. Mutton Market.—Quiet, with slow demand. New Zealand Porker Pigs.—Market is steady, but. warm weather decreasing consumption. - Now Zealand Baconer Pigs.—Good inquiry owing to firm bacon market. WORLD SUGAR OUTLOOK. 1 NCR EASED CONSUMPTION. Although world production of sugar Ibis season is likely to be higher there is apparently greater ability in consuming countries to absorb larger quantities, and favourable figures in this regard have induced a more hopeful prospect for the present season, says tho Sydney Morning Herald. America, Europe and a number of Asiatic countries show higher figures for consumption in 1928 than for the previous year. Available statistics cive world production in the current year at 26,700,000 tons in comparison with the out-turn last vear of 25.531.000 tons and in 1927 of 23,733,000 tons. Thero will be no restriction on tho Cuban crop this year, which is estimated at over 4,750,000 tons. A largo increase is also expected in Java. Refiners in tho United Kingdom last month held larpe stocks of raws bought 011 favourable (erins, which iact did not indicate any quotable advance in the imm<>diulo futuro. CENTRAL BANKING SYSTEM. POSITION IN AUSTRALIA. The directors of tho Commonwealth Bank, in their half-yearly report, state that tho establishment of a central reservo banking system in Australia has been tho subject of further discussion between those directly concerned in its establishment. "Tho board is unablo at this stage to say that any definite progress toward tho objective has been made, whilo on the other hand, except as regards delay, it cannot bo said that any material ground has been lost," the report states. "The board realises that, except through tho aegis of legislation, tho adoption of tlie central reserve system can only be brought about by a process of evolution; this process is usually slow and is further involved through tho changes in tho personnel of those who may bo directly looked to to bring it about. Apart from any other aspect of tho matter, however, the steady development of tho system in other parts of the world must have its influence on the Australian position, and it might not be injudicious to say that banking circles generally are not unfavourable to the establishment of tho system, but views differ as to tho form of its establishment ;iiid its control,"